Man arrested and extradited in historic murder case

A man who fled Australia after being suspected in a murder investigation has been arrested 16 years later.

The 36-year-old returned to Australia on a flight from Bangkok on Saturday and was arrested in Melbourne before being extradited to South Australia.

This is the fourth arrest in connection with the murder of Thea Kheav in December 2007 at an 18th birthday party in the Adelaide suburb of Parafield Gardens.

According to police, an altercation broke out between Mr. Kheav’s brother and another group at the party.

The group briefly left the location before returning and fatally stabbing Thea Kheav.

Three men were convicted of his murder and sentenced in 2011 to life in prison without parole for 20 years.

Six months after the murder investigation began, police identified a fourth suspect, but the now 36-year-old had fled Australia four weeks after the murder.

In 2008, an arrest warrant was obtained for the man and he was then arrested by Cambodian police, but three months later Cambodia’s Supreme Court rejected an extradition request.

He returned to Australia on Saturday and was detained by authorities before extradition to South Australia was approved.

The 36-year-old remains at the Adelaide City Watchhouse on a murder warrant issued in his absence and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.